So, what is that script A?

So, yes, that big red "A" on the top right of my entry-level web page
(www.ne9et.net/index.html) indicates that I accept the label of
"atheist" without apology (not needed) or pride (not warranted).
However, since that term of art is not well understood in general, I
provide here a brief tutorial on what that means, exactly. I also
explain why describing myself as an "agnostic atheist" is in fact
eminently sensible, and not—as some might suppose—a
contradiction in terms[1]. Finally, I explain why just calling me
an atheist is not a particularly useful label.

What is atheism about?

It should be really simple: atheism is the lack of belief in a god or
gods. It often extends to a lack of belief in other "supernatural"
entities with supposed god-like powers, such as angels, devils,
werewolves, leprechauns, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, what have you.
But "belief" can be a slippery term.

I "believe" the sun will rise [2} tomorrow, by which I indicate that
my understanding of astronomy and extensive experience gives me
confidence that tomorrow there'll be sun (apologies to the musical
Annie). I also believe that science is the best method we
humans have for understanding of the world. It has proven its value
repeatedly, and though it progresses at times in fits and starts,
it does tend to home in on reality rather effectively. Science has
proved its worth. I like reality.

That's it. Despite the best efforts of theistic apologists over the
years, I have encountered no evidence that would lead me to believe
that a god, or multiple god-like beings, have an existence outside
the imaginations of the theists. I describe myself also as a
skeptic (sceptic, occasionally in England), which is also a term
often misunderstood, and also ill-defined in some dictionaries. As
a skeptic, I do not habitually reject ideas out of hand; I merely
require solid evidence for them. As has been well said, "that which
is asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence."
And accepting the existence of extraordinary beings would require
extraordinary evidence. If such irrefutable evidence were to emerge,
I would not hesitate to believe. I'm not holding my breath on that
one, though.

I should not have to add, but will, that I do not mean to imply by
the above that all skeptics are necessarily atheists. I will freely
acknowledge that there are people who claim to possess the type of
extraordinary evidence that leads them to be theists (or perhaps deists
[3]
). I am happy for them. I'm just not one of them.

What's an agnostic atheist?

Isn't an agnostic something other than an atheist? Like someone
who is unsure about this god thing? In short, no. The terms
"atheist" and "agnostic" address distinct ideas. As mentioned
above, an atheist lacks belief in gods. In general,
atheists will not assert positively that they know that
there are no gods (though some may hold that view). Those who
claim to know some idea with surety can be said to be "gnostic"
with respect to that idea. Anyone else is agnostic. A theist
can be agnostic just as easily as an atheist. Just not as often.

Although I know of no evidence for gods, I also cannot claim that
there are (is) none. In part this is because there are so dang
many of them. Evidence for non-existence is notoriously difficult
to get. I don't believe in the Loch Ness monster, and have good reason
[4]
to expect there is no such being—at least as commonly
described—but I would hesitate to claim certain knowledge of
its non-existence; and that's a rather well-defined creature, both
in general attributes and precise location. Even among Christians,
much less god believers worldwide, there is little agreement
[5]
about the nature and intentions of the being they
call their God. To the point of calling each other "heretics."

So not wanting to waste what life I have trying with great
difficulty to try to disprove all of the world's gods, I take
the position that I can't know with any certainty that somewhere
there may be a being worthy of being called a god. Without any
evidence for one either, I admit freely that I don't know.
There is much that I don't know, and I don't worry myself over
much about that. I live my life as best I can.

Is any of this relevant?

In my opinion no. There are many who would beg to differ. Some
would even declare me as evil for not accepting their god, and
thus worthy of eternal torment. Somehow, I think that any god
who would do that would not be worthy of any respect, much less
of worship.

It all comes down to the fact that "atheist" is a flimsy label.
It says little of any importance about people: merely that
they lack something. It may not be apparent in the United
States, but there are a lot of people worldwide who have the
same lack, and for many of the same reasons. To understand me,
one might observe some positive characteristics.

I have great respect and empathy for all humans, to the extent
that they have respect and empathy for others. I know many
exemplary people who sincerely and deeply believe in their god,
and do not disparage them for that belief. I just ask the same
from them for my lack of belief. I have spent many hours, many
weeks and months even, helping others through the activities
mentioned on my home page among others. To the best of my knowledge,
I have never intentionally hurt any one; if I have, I sincerely
regret that failing, and would do all I could to make amends.

In short, I try to live a moral life, without any hope of reward
short of the regard of my fellow humans who have known me. Nor
do I have to fear extraordinary punishment to avoid doing injury
to others. I would not do to others what I would not wish done
to me (this is the inverse Golden Rule).

Have more questions?

This web page is limited to an overview of what being an atheist
means to me. There are many questions asked of atheists, some of
which may be of interest to you. As a start, you might want to
read this list
of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about atheism from the Quora
web site. Or perhaps this
FAQ from the Atheist Community of Austin TX. As stated in both,
there is only one thing one can say with certainty about any
atheist: lack of a belief in god(s).

Footnotes:

[1]

Likewise, I self describe as a "conservative liberal."
Anyone who thinks that is a contradiction clearly does not
understand the meaning of at least one of those terms. For
example, any soi-disant conservative who advocates
changing the US Constitution to deny others' rights is a
raging oxymoron. Not to mention an every day one.

[2]

By which I mean that the earth will with near certainty
continue to rotate on its axis, and that the sun by all
that is known of stars of its size will continue to shine
for the next few billion years, and that the earth will
still be in orbit around the sun for as long as humans
are likely to inhabit this planet. At least until
tomorrow. No supernatural agency is required to assure
this end.

[3]

A deist is one who believes in a creator god, who then
bows out of its creation, and does not subsequently have
any effect on it. Such a god definitely does not answer
prayers. Or dictate books.

[4]

The Loch Ness monster is reported to be a rather large
reptilian animal. Loch Ness itself (I've been there) is one
of the largest in Scotland, but is still rather puny by
comparison with any of the Great Lakes, for example. Not only
would there be a food supply problem for even a single such
beast—and massive evidence of predation—but for
there to be a sustained breeding population of them (at least
several hundred) they would overflow the area, and one would
likely be seen daily. Also every supposed photograph of Nessie
is known to be a fake. Color me skeptical.

[5]

Is the Christian god one or a trinity? Mormons have been
declared Christian on high authority, yet there is a no more
polytheistic religion to be found, they have no hell and have
three levels of heaven. Doesn't sound much like a Baptist to
me. Does the Christian god require acceptance of Jesus as one's
personal savior to get into (the one) heaven, or does one merely
have to behave according to the rules (which ones?), and ask
forgiveness when one strays? Opinions differ.